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was quite sane enough not to try Ian's temper further this night. In the morning, when the heat of fighting was not so close upon him, they would have this matter out. Alinor slammed her knife back into its sheath and stalked out of the room. |
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For one long moment Ian remained rigid, staring at the spot where Alinor had stood. "Hellcat!" he muttered. "What did I say to make her turn on me? What did I say?" Then he uttered an explosive obscenity and looked down at himself as if he needed visual evidence of the sensation that had gripped him. So violent was the need that Alinor in her flaming rage had aroused in him that Ian's next move was to look around for a maidservant to ease his lust upon. |
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The chamber was empty. Not only the maids were gone, but Ian's squire as well. There was nothing for it but to master his desire as best he could. Geoffrey would come if he called, but even in his present condition Ian realized that it would be wrong to send the boy to fetch a woman for him. He would not even have sent Owain, whom he knew was not innocent. To take a maid to bed in his betrothed wife's home was bad manners and a bad example. Certainly he could not ask Geoffrey, who might well still be pure of body if not of mind, to pander for him. Cursing vilely, Ian stepped into the tub and began to wash. |
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Although the combatants had not noticed, the maids had sidled from the chamber as soon as they perceived the first sign of hostilities, long before Alinor had drawn her knife. Wise by long experience, they had shepherded the frightened squire before them. They were quite accustomed to marital tussles. Alinor and Simon had loved each other deeply, but their marriage had been no milk-and-water affair. Until Simon fell ill, there had been frequent explosions, most based on very similar grounds. The lady had gone her own way; the lord had asked for explanations; the lady had refused; bellows and, occasionally, although rarely, even blows had been |
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